Looks like the Patriot act is here to stay
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
MSNBC is reporting (via AP reports) that a deal has been reached to continue the Patriot Act and make most provisions permanent.
The deal is reported to be one that tweaks provisions of the act, but leaves some of the more controversial provisions in effect.
The original article can be found here:
Patriot Act deal could curb some FBI powers
Pre-dawn agreement may also make provisions of expiring law permanent
WASHINGTON - House and Senate negotiators struck a tentative deal on the expiring Patriot Act that would curb FBI subpoena power and require the Justice Department to more fully report its secret requests for information about ordinary people, according to officials involved in the talks.
Democrats and civil libertarians said that while the tentative deal makes some improvements, it doesn’t address their chief concern: the curbing of FBI power to gather certain information by requiring the investigators to prove the subject’s records are connected to a foreign agent or government.
“It gives a nod toward checks and balances without fixing the most fundamental flaws in the Patriot Act,” said Lisa Graves of the American Civil Liberties Union.
... more at the original article
As noted in the last paragraph I snipped above, the ACLU is still ready to scream long and loud about the trampling of rights via the use of the draconian measures of the Patriot Act, though they haven't been able to show yet where anyone has been harmed thanks to the use or abuse of any Patriot Act provisions (they claim that is because of the heavy handed nature of the secrecy of the provisions in the act and the penalties that would apply for anyone violating such secrecy).
In anycase, there's still a way to go before the extension would be completed. They'll still have plenty of time to try to derail things if they so choose.
The deal is reported to be one that tweaks provisions of the act, but leaves some of the more controversial provisions in effect.
The original article can be found here:
Patriot Act deal could curb some FBI powers
Pre-dawn agreement may also make provisions of expiring law permanent
WASHINGTON - House and Senate negotiators struck a tentative deal on the expiring Patriot Act that would curb FBI subpoena power and require the Justice Department to more fully report its secret requests for information about ordinary people, according to officials involved in the talks.
Democrats and civil libertarians said that while the tentative deal makes some improvements, it doesn’t address their chief concern: the curbing of FBI power to gather certain information by requiring the investigators to prove the subject’s records are connected to a foreign agent or government.
“It gives a nod toward checks and balances without fixing the most fundamental flaws in the Patriot Act,” said Lisa Graves of the American Civil Liberties Union.
... more at the original article
As noted in the last paragraph I snipped above, the ACLU is still ready to scream long and loud about the trampling of rights via the use of the draconian measures of the Patriot Act, though they haven't been able to show yet where anyone has been harmed thanks to the use or abuse of any Patriot Act provisions (they claim that is because of the heavy handed nature of the secrecy of the provisions in the act and the penalties that would apply for anyone violating such secrecy).
In anycase, there's still a way to go before the extension would be completed. They'll still have plenty of time to try to derail things if they so choose.